Fornix-based versus limbal-based conjunctival trabeculectomy flaps for glaucoma

A bibliometric analysis of apoptosis in glaucoma

Background

Glaucoma is the first irreversible and second blindness disease, which is characterized by the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and degeneration of the optic nerve. Previous works have indicated that apoptosis is the main reason for RGC death in glaucoma. Although many studies have investigated the mechanism of apoptosis and different strategies targeting apoptosis to protect the RGCs and finally recover the impaired vision in the glaucoma. However, the global trend and hotspots of apoptosis in glaucoma have not been well illustrated and discussed.

Methods

Documents were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection on November 2, 2022. We selected articles and reviews published in English from January 1, 1999 to November 1, 2022 to perform visual analysis and statistical analysis of countries, institutions, authors, references and keywords by VOSviewer 1.6.18 and CiteSpace 5.8.

Results

The publications about apoptosis in glaucoma show an increasing trend over time. Besides, the authors, institutions in the US and China published the most numbers of articles with the highest citation, which may be leading the research in the field of apoptosis in glaucoma. Last, series of advanced research results, technology and treatment for glaucoma, such as the discovery of key regulatory mechanisms on RGC apoptosis are emerging and will provide precise strategies for the treatment of glaucoma.

Conclusion

This research will broaden our comprehension about the role of apoptosis in the process of glaucoma, and provide guidelines for us in basic research and disease treatment in the further.

[How can one learn to perform a trabeculectomy? : The Mainz treatment scheme]

Trabeculectomy represents the glaucoma surgical procedure that achieves the greatest reduction in intraocular pressure and enables a low pressure regulation especially in normal pressure glaucoma. For the beginner the operation is challenging due to potential intraoperative and postoperative difficulties. With this in mind this article explains how to learn to perform a trabeculectomy and explains the various steps from assessing the indications via training, performing the surgery independently and follow-up care. The article points out the challenges during the procedure and the possible solutions and explains the individual aftercare using the Mainz treatment scheme as an example. In this way, the risk of serious complications can be reduced to a minimum and in the vast majority of patients a sufficient regulation of intraocular pressure can be achieved without the need for eye drops.